“The law of the heart”

1. The King's Manifesto for Life “The law of the heart” Study 4 The King’s Manifesto for Life

2. The Thought and the Act Ex. 20:14 – 7th Commandment – Covenant issues always involved. V.29 – “right eye” = the mind. Eye is a symbol for intelligence. V.30 – “right hand” = actions. Hand is a symbol for authority and power in action. Hence – “looketh” > “lust” = “adultery”. At what point does “looking” become a sin? The King’s Manifesto for Life

3. Intent equivalent to deed The Law forbad covetousness – e.g. Ex. 20:17 – “thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife” – which only God can discern and judge. Rabbinical teaching primarily dealt with externals – deeds, not motives. The Pharisee Josephus said – “The purposing to do a thing, but not actually doing it, is not worthy of punishment.” By contrast, Christ ‘fulfilled’ the Law. The King’s Manifesto for Life

4. What characteristic of the 8? Matt. 5:8 “Blessed arethe pure in heart: for they shall see God.” The 6th characteristic The King’s Manifesto for Life

5. Adultery – A lack of heart Prov. 6:32-33 - But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding (Mgn. heart): he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. Job 31:1 - I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? The King’s Manifesto for Life

6. Adultery in the heart and in fact John 8:1-11 – The sin of adultery diminished by the scribes and Pharisees. Luke 16:14-18– Adultery the motivation of covetous Pharisees. 2 Sam. 11:1-3 – Indolence often the source of adulterous contemplations. 2 Sam. 13:1-2 – Ungratified lust makes the heart and body sick. 2 Pet. 2:14 – Entrenched adulterous thought is near to being incurable. The King’s Manifesto for Life

7. What is “thought adultery”? Reporter questions newly elected US President Jimmy Carter in 1976 – “Have you ever committed adultery?” Jimmy Carter responds – “Yes!” – He was a Christian and believed Matt. 5:28 to be true. He had been faithful to his wife. “lust” – epithumeo (16 occs.) – to fix the desire upon, to have the affections directed towards – Gal. 5:17; Luke 15:16; 16:21. The King’s Manifesto for Life

9. Moral Capacity (unique to mankind) Intellect • Propensities • eat • drink • procreate

10. It is written “thought” -zimmah - plan, device, purpose. RSV –“The devising of folly is sin” Prov. 24:9 – “The thought of foolishness is sin”

11. Christ and Temptation “For, whatever view may be taken of some questions surrounding the temptation, one thing is fundamental: he ‘was tempted’. He knew temptation as a fact, and conquered it in the power of the Word; and this was part of the experience by which he was ‘made perfect’ in order that others may be ‘made perfect’ through him. As he ‘tasted of death for every man’ so also he tasted of temptation; and as through death he obtained an eternal redemption - for himself, that it might be for others - so through temptation he gained a victory for himself that others might share its fruits.” Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master pg.20 The King’s Manifesto for Life

12. Drastic Action! Eye plucked out! Hand cut off! Cannot be literal. But demonstrates seriousness – radical surgery needed! Eye = Mind/thinking. Hand = Works. Radical action is required to overcome besetting sin. Sublimation is better than repression – Rom. 12:21. Examples – Eph. 4:25-32. The King’s Manifesto for Life

13. Abstention alone is deficient “It is right to abstain - to cut off the hand or pluck out the eye rather than indulge in those things which may be a snare to others. But there are always some who seem to think that righteousness consists in finding fresh things which must not be done.” Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg.182 The King’s Manifesto for Life

14. Christ versus Rabbis Note difference between V.27 and V.31. V.27 – “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time” – The Law of Moses. V.31 – “It hath been said” – By whom? The Rabbis taught – “Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.” Deut. 24:1-4 does not say this! The King’s Manifesto for Life

15. The teachings of Rabbi Hillel A man could, with Moses’ authority, “put away his wife for every cause” - any minor infraction provided a basis for summary dismissal. Burning a meal or dressing improperly were grounds for divorce. This was the increasingly dominant view of the two schools of thought at the time. Ultimately, Rabbi Aquiba taught that a man “may divorce his wife even if he has found a prettier woman”. This of course had always been the real motivation behind unwarranted divorce. The King’s Manifesto for Life

16. Teachings of Rabbi Shammai The rival school of Shammai bitterly opposed the liberal views of Hillel and taught that “a man may not divorce his wife, except he found in her an unseemly thing (i.e. unchastity)”. Thus in this school of thought the only grounds for divorce and remarriage were restricted to sexual impropriety. The King’s Manifesto for Life

17. Adultery in Practice! Every deliberate act has a motive, therefore every motive is a potential act. Many Pharisees were adulterers at heart – Luke 16:13-18. Many lustfully looked at other women having already decided to find a way to dismiss their wife. Hence, such fixed desire (epithumeo) was in itself an act of adultery. The King’s Manifesto for Life

18. Is there an Exceptive Clause? Where is the permission to remarry? Matt. 5:32 – “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” In those times banishing a wife virtually condemned her to remarriage for mere survival. The King’s Manifesto for Life

19. Christ’s teaching on divorce The only escape from culpability for creating ‘multiple’ adultery is if the wife has already committed it. Nowhere does Christ give permission for remarriage! Mark 10:2-12 and Luke 16:18 are unequivocal – No exceptions. Hence, the disciples view – Matt. 19:10 - “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” The King’s Manifesto for Life

20. Next Study (God willing) Study 5 – “The law of love” The King’s Manifesto for Life

21. The King’s Manifesto for Life

22. Content of this study The natural man and the law of the heart. Adultery in the heart (Jimmy Carter). What is sin? Initial thought or considered intentions. Radical action required. Divorce – Exceptive clause. The King’s Manifesto for Life